The process of fracturing and movement of the outer layers of the Earth is called _____.

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

The question asks for the term describing the process of fracturing and movement of the Earth's outer layers.
Option 1: cratering — This refers to the formation of craters, typically from impacts, not the deformation and movement of tectonic plates. It does not describe the broad process of outer-layer dynamics.
Option 2: coriolis drift — The Coriolis effect relates to the apparent deflection of moving objects due to Earth's rotation, affecting motion on a planetary scale but not the fracturing and movement of the lithosphere. It is not the term for plate motion.
Option 3: plate tectonics — This term precisely characterizes the theory and process in which the Earth's lithosphere is fractured into plates that move relative to each other, driven by convection in the mantle. It directly explains both fracturing and movement of the outer layers.
Option 4: differentiation — In planetary science, differentiation refers to the separation of materials by density (e.g., metal into core and silicate mantle) during early formation, not ongoing fracturing and movement of the outer shells.
Option 5: volcanism — Volcanism describes the eruption of magma onto the surface, which may be driven by tectonic processes but does not by itself define the fracturing and movement of the outer layers. It is a related phenomenon, not the overall process described in the question.

ASTRON 2140 AU2025 (23428) Final - 2025 Dec 12

The process of fracturing and movement of the outer layers of the Earth is called _____.

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ASTRON 2140 AU2025 (23428) Final - 2025 Dec 12

The process of fracturing and movement of the outer layers of the Earth is called _____.

View Explanation

Log in for full answers

Similar Questions

During subduction:

Transform boundaries occur where ____.​

The angle of subduction of the down-going slab determines the surface profile of the earthquakes as seen in the image below. If the subduction angle was steeper (steeper subducting plate shown by yellow shade), how would the surface profile change?

What types of plate boundaries do not produce earthquakes?

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More Practical Tools for Students Powered by AI Study Helper

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Transform boundaries occur where ____.